News Briefs

LastWORDŽ Training Nearly Complete, ‘Go-Live’ Date Targeted for January

With initial training now complete for most Hospital departments, a “Go-Live” date to implement the new LastWORDŽ Information System is now targeted for late January. Designed to provide dramatic new ways to view and manage information, the LastWORDŽ system in its first phase will replace the CORE system.

Training classes for nurses will continue through December and January as well as for these departments: Nutrition and Dietetics, Finance, Hospital Administration, Rehabilitation Medicine and Volunteer Services, says Stephen Tranquillo, Director, HealthLINK Information Systems.

Training classes for physicians, residents and medical students will be held throughout January at three locations in Gibbon: rooms 1960 and 2240 and the second-floor physicians lounge. For physician training information, call Mary McNichol at 5-8431.
Refresher training for LastWORDŽ will take place during December and January, coordinated by Susan G. Miller, RN, MN, Clinical Resource Management.
For refresher training information, call Ms. Miller at 3-3354, and for general training questions contact Chuck Brucker at 3-1618.

The first in a series of raffles was held to thank both the trainers and those who participated in training. Winners of Dining With Heart gift certificates are: Christine Costello, Utlization Management, Colleen Lord, Nursing Service, and Mimi Craig, Nurse Trainer.

To help prepare for the “Go-Live” LastWORDŽ event, Kevin O’Leary, Administrative Resident, is meeting with hospital departments to recruit more LastWORDŽ “superusers.” This is a chance for all employees to enhance their knowledge about this new software and help others to do so. In addition, copies of a video describing the purpose, uses and goals of LastWORDŽ will be distributed to departments.

For questions about the overall project contact Stephen Tranquillo at 5-2790 or visit the HealthLink Website at http://hlink.tju.edu

Radiation Oncology Receives Two NCI Grants for Nearly $5 Million
A pair of grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will help boost Jefferson’s research and training efforts in the battle against cancer. The grant awards were announced by principal investigator Dennis B. Leeper, PhD, Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Jefferson Medical College.

One grant, for nearly $4 million, funds renewal of the Program Project Grant entitled “Modification of Hyperthermia Response.” The program, now in its fifth year, will receive $3,925,048 over the next three and one-half years. More than 25 people from seven departments at Thomas Jefferson University and four other institutions will contribute to the research program.

The overall goal of the research, says Dr. Leeper, is to understand how tumor cells adapt to growth in an acidic environment and to further understand the mechanism by which acidification sensitizes human melanoma to certain pH-dependent therapeutic agents.
More specific goals are of prime interest to Jefferson’s research community, Dr. Leeper says. These include several laboratory efforts to increase and study tumor acidity in comparison with normal tissues and to evaluate the findings’ potential for improving cancer therapy while sparing normal tissue.

$800,000 NCI Grant Renews Postdoctoral Training Program
In addition, Dr. Leeper announces NCI funding for the renewal of a postdoctoral training grant entitled “Cancer Training in the Science of DNA Damage Response.” Now in its 17th year the training program will receive approximately $800,000 over the next five years to support five postdoctoral fellows annually.

Dr. Leeper is the program’s principal investigator and training director, and Dr. George Iliakis is the co-director. The training faculty is composed of 19 Jefferson faculty members representing five departments.

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